The Washington Community Food Project in Washington, Tyne and Wear, has released an updated list of essential items needed to support local people facing financial hardship. The volunteer-run project provides emergency food parcels to residents and relies primarily on community donations and volunteer support; it does not receive regular ongoing government funding (though its recent accounts record some government grants).
Residents can drop off food and toiletries at the project’s main hub at Unit O, The Galleries shopping centre, Washington (NE38 7SD). The donation point is open 12:00–15:00, Tuesday to Friday each week. The project moved into Unit O in October 2023 to be more visible and easier for shoppers to find.
The most needed items currently include tinned meats, long-life (UHT) milk, pasta sauce and cereal, alongside toiletries such as toothpaste and soap. There is also a high demand for carrier bags/’bags for life’ — The Galleries’ carrier-bag appeal notes WCFP uses around 100 bags for life a week to pack groceries for families.
The project is a registered independent charity (registered charity no. 1156409). It serves Washington and Springwell and operates on a referral basis: people are helped after being referred by partners including local GPs, schools, housing provider Gentoo, Citizens Advice and the Jobcentre. As a volunteer-run charity it depends on donations and local goodwill to meet the sustained demand for emergency parcels.
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